ABUJA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's hydrological body Wednesday issued an alert over possible flooding due to the high intensity of rainfall across the country.
The warning became imperative due to the flooding incidents being experienced in some parts of the country, Ahmed Bashar, acting director-general of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), said in Abuja, the nation's capital.
The months of July, August and September, otherwise known as "JAS months," remained a critical period of flooding in the country, he said.
The 2018 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) released earlier this year by the agency gave Sept. 28 as the earliest cessation date of rainfall in northwest Sokoto and Katsina states.
He said December remained the earliest cessation date for the southern coastal cities.
Bashar said the flood level and the discharge of River Niger had continued to increase, adding that the public must take caution to avert any serious losses.
He said the earlier warning that some states -- Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Edo, Anambra, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa -- stood the risk of experiencing river flooding remained unchanged.
The water levels were rising on both Rivers Niger and Benue respectively, he added, noting that the report should not pose widespread panic as the Cameroonian government had yet to release water from Lagdo Dam.
Earlier this year, heavy rains and thunderstorms caused havoc in Lagos, Nigeria's economic nerve center and one of Africa's most populous cities.
Some of the worst flooding in recent memory happened five years ago in March 2012 when 32 of Nigeria's 36 states were affected, 24 severely. More than 360 people were killed and almost 2 million people were displaced.
